In a wide-ranging interview with BBC's Amol Rajan, Gary Lineker discussed his exit from Match of the Day, the BBC's social media guidelines, and his views on gambling sponsorship in sports. Lineker believed the BBC wanted him to leave Match of the Day while negotiating a new contract, citing a sense that they preferred to bring in new presenters for the new rights period. He will still host World Cup and FA Cup coverage for the BBC. Lineker also reflected on his suspension from the BBC due to comments he posted on social media regarding the government's immigration policy, saying he did not regret taking the position he did but acknowledged the damage it caused the BBC. The row over Lineker's tweets led to a review and update of the BBC's social media guidelines. Lineker also discussed his footballing career, his son's leukemia battle as a baby, and his support for a controversial Gaza documentary that was pulled from BBC iPlayer. He argued for the reinstatement of the documentary, stating that viewers should be allowed to make their own minds up. Lineker also expressed concern about the impact of gambling sponsorship in sports and indicated that his next career move would likely focus on podcasting.
Source: BBC Sports Football
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